LIMITED DISTRIBUTION.
Sir R. Craigie, (Tokyo).
9th October, 1939,
De
R
4.35 p.m.
12.20 p.m.
9th October, 1939,
9th October, 1939.
No. 1356.
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My despatch No. 609 of September 5th.
Governor of Hong Kong forwarded to me for possible action correspondence regarding the mishap to British steamship Haitan, which struck a mine near Shacheng on July 25th. Copies of
correspondence have been forwarded by Governor to Colonial Office.
I should be grateful for telegraphic instructions on question
whether claim should be presented,
My representations on the general question, for which please see my despatch under reference, have now elicited a reply from Japanese Government denying that measures in question are aimed at
encroaching on British trading rights and stating that, as they are measures of defence against civilian attack, they do not constitute
a breach of the Hague Convention; and maintaining that Japanese
Gernment cannot therefore accept any responsibility for damage
which may thus be caused to British merchant vessels.
Copy of
this note is now on its way to you with my despatch No. 658 of
October 4th.
I am asking Governor if pieces of mine found after explosion have now proved to be Japanese and suggesting that he repeats his
reply to Colonial Office.
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